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5 Dead Battery Tips and Tricks To Keep You MovingAs the weather begins cooling down, drivers often find themselves stranded with a dead battery. However, there are still some tips and tricks that may be able to help you make it to a mechanic for a battery replacement. The local auto service mechanics at Chapel Hill Tire are here with insight. Check Your Engine OilIf your car is having a hard time turning over, you might be able to give it a boost by ensuring your oil is fresh. When the cold weather sets in, it makes your engine oil move slower—which causes your vehicle to require an extra surge of power from your battery. Tainted, contaminated, and expired engine oil can add even more stress to your battery. Ensuring you have fresh engine oil may be able to buy you a little time while you get your battery replaced. Phone a Friend: How to Jump a Car BatteryWhen you find your car battery dead, naturally, you are due for a battery replacement service. However, it can be hard to make it to the mechanic when your car refuses to turn over. In these cases, a simple jump-start can get you on your way. Jump-starting your car can be easy with the help of a friend. All you need is a set of jumper cables and a second running vehicle. You can read our 8-step guide to jumping a car battery here. Find the Right Tools: Can I Jump a Car Battery By Myself?With the right tools, it is possible to safely jump-start a car battery by yourself. However, it can be hard to get the right tools without a running car. Primarily, you will need a special battery pack to jumpstart a dead car battery by yourself. Individual jump-starting battery packs are available for order online and in some major retail/hardware stores. These batteries have attached jumper cables and the power needed to jump-start most car batteries. Simply follow the included instructions to charge and jump-start your car battery. Give it Some TimeHere is a common myth: the cold weather kills your car battery. Rather, the cold weather slows down the electrochemical reaction that fuel’s your battery power. As such, it is during the coldest times of day that your battery will struggle the most. By giving your car a little time to warm up, you might have better luck with your battery later in the day. Additionally, if your car does start, it does not mean your battery is good to go. Without proper replacement, you will likely find your car battery dead again in the morning. Instead, take the time to have a new battery installed by a professional mechanic. Check for CorrosionCorrosion can also prevent your battery from starting—especially on colder days. It drains the charge out of the battery while limiting its ability to accept a jump-start. You can have your battery terminal ends professionally cleaned or replaced to eliminate corrosion concerns. If your battery is still struggling to start, you may be far overdue for a battery replacement. There could also be an issue with your alternator, starting system, or another component failure. In this case, you may need to see a mechanic for a battery/starting system inspection or professional diagnostic services. Chapel Hill Tire: New Battery Installation ServicesWhen you are almost due for a new battery, the experts at Chapel Hill Tire are here for you. We install new batteries throughout the Triangle—with 9 locations across Raleigh, Apex, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Durham. If you sense that your battery is getting ready to die but do not have time to visit a mechanic, our pick-up and delivery service can help! We invite you to make your appointment here online or give us a call to get started today! Back to Resources Download Article Download Article Whether it's because you left the lights on or your battery is old, most car owners will be faced with a dead battery sooner or later. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, this wikiHow may help you out.
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Advertisement ReferencesAbout This ArticleArticle SummaryX To jump start a car, you’ll need jumper cables and another driver who’s willing to assist you. First, ask the other driver to pull up next to your car so the jumper cables will reach each car’s battery. Then, turn off both cars and open the hoods. Connect the red, or positive, clip on the jumper cables to the positive terminal on the dead battery. Next, connect the other red clip to the positive terminal on the other driver’s battery. Do the same thing with the black, or negative, clips on the jumper cables, but attach them to the negative terminals on the batteries instead of the positive ones. Now, have the other driver start their car, and let it run for a few minutes. Start your car like you normally would, then disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order you connected them. Finally, let your car run for 10 to 20 minutes without turning it off to make sure the battery doesn’t die again. Did this summary help you? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 5,486,137 times. Reader Success Stories
Did this article help you?Will a dead car battery recharge itself?Simply put, no car battery, whether healthy or dead, can charge itself. It always requires an external power source to get charged. Can Dead Batteries be Charged? Once a car battery is dead, the alternator will fail to recharge it completely.
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